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Lake Huron Rock Picker's Guide
by Kevin Gauthier Bruce MuellerBruce Mueller is owner of the C&M Rock Shop in Honor, Michigan. He holds a master's degree in geology from the University of Illinois. He is also the author of The Complete Guide to Petoskey Stones. Kevin Gauthier is a business graduate from Michigan State University and has completed courses through Gem Institute of America (GIA). He has spent a lifetime collecting, cutting, and polishing the gems found around Lake Huron. Kevin is co-author with Bruce Mueller of Lake Michigan Rock Picker's Guide and Lake Superior Rock Picker's Guide. He is owner of Korner Gem in Traverse City, Michigan: www. kornergem.com.
Lake Hydrology: An Introduction to Lake Mass Balance
by William LeRoy Evans IIIThe first book dedicated to describing the hydrology of water flow in lake systems, geared for limnologists and students of hydrology.With fresh water becoming a critical issue around the world, lake mass balance—the hydrology or water movement in lakes—is increasingly important to environmental studies and remediation projects. Unfortunately, lake hydrology is often only briefly covered in broader texts on hydrogeology and hydrology or is confined to specialized research papers. Lake Hydrology rigorously describes the hydrology of flow into and out of lake systems. Explaining the physical parameters that influence lake behavior, as well as the mathematics that describes these systems, this in-depth book fills an important niche in the literature of watershed science. This text• describes the physical structure and nature of drainage basins and explains the origin and classification of lakes• explores the hydrology of lake mass balance and storage as it pertains to lake stage, groundwater and lake bottom interaction, hypsometry, lake hydraulics, precipitation, surface flow, evaporation, and transpiration• provides models, practical information, and solutions for lake management or remediation planning utilizing basic data, including stage fluctuation, evapotranspiration, lake-bottom seepage, precipitation, and surface flow • uses examples from real-world long-term studies, including Utah's Great Salt Lake and Florida's Lake Jackson, a karstic lake system• examines the effect of storm events including the temporal and areal distribution of rainfall, and flow paths of water in the catchment from precipitation• includes an introduction to relevant scientific principles, such as dimensional analysis, the properties of water, and the hydrologic cycleUnlike most limnology texts, which emphasize lake ecology and biology, Lake Hydrology is designed to truly elucidate the hydrology of lake systems, especially as it relates to components of the hydrologic cycle. This book will greatly benefit professionals and researchers involved in lake management, remediation, or investigation of lake systems, and can be used as is or integrated within graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in limnology.
Lake Invaders: Invasive Species and the Battle for the Future of the Great Lakes (Great Lakes Books Series)
by William RapaiThere are more than 180 exotic species in the Great Lakes. Some, such as green algae, the Asian tapeworm, and the suckermouth minnow, have had little or no impact so far. But a handful of others--sea lamprey, alewife, round goby, quagga mussel, zebra mussel, Eurasian watermilfoil, spiny water flea, and rusty crayfish--have conducted an all-out assault on the Great Lakes and are winning the battle. In Lake Invaders: Invasive Species and the Battle for the Future of the Great Lakes, William Rapai focuses on the impact of these invasives. Chapters delve into the ecological and economic damage that has occurred and is still occurring and explore educational efforts and policies designed to prevent new introductions into the Great Lakes. Rapai begins with a brief biological and geological history of the Great Lakes. He then examines the history of the Great Lakes from a human dimension, with the construction of the Erie Canal and Welland Canal, opening the doors to an ecosystem that had previously been isolated. The seven chapters that follow each feature a different invasive species, with information about its arrival and impact, including a larger story of ballast water, control efforts, and a forward-thinking shift to prevention. Rapai includes the perspectives of the many scientists, activists, politicians, commercial fishermen, educators, and boaters he interviewed in the course of his research. The final chapter focuses on the stories of the largely unnoticed and unrecognized advocates who have committed themselves to slowing, stopping, and reversing the invasion and keeping the lakes resilient enough to absorb the inevitable attacks to come. Rapai makes a strong case for what is at stake with the growing number of invasive species in the lakes. He examines new policies and the tradeoffs that must be weighed, and ends with an inspired call for action. Although this volume tackles complex ecological, economical, and political issues, it does so in a balanced, lively, and very accessible way. Those interested in the history and future of the Great Lakes region, invasive species, environmental policy making, and ecology will enjoy this informative and thought-provoking volume.
Lake Kivu
by Jean-Pierre Descy Martin Schmid François DarchambeauIn the heart of Africa, a unique lake attracts the attention of scientists since the beginning of the 20th century. At the foot of the Virunga volcano chain, Lake Kivu harbors a vast amount of dissolved carbon dioxide and methane, making this lake the most dangerous lake on Earth. But the lake furnishes also many goods and services for surrounding populations and may soon become the most important energy supplier in the area. At the beginning of gas exploitation, the time has come for gathering the large amount of scientific information acquired during past and present research on Lake Kivu. The eleven chapters cover many aspects of the physics, geochemistry and biology of the lake, with a particular focus on the unique physical and geochemical features of the water column and on the ecological functioning of the surface waters. The impacts of the introduced fish species and the potential impacts of methane exploitation are also summarized. This multi-disciplinary book may also be used as an introduction to the limnology and biogeochemistry of large tropical lakes, as it covers various aspects of the physics, geochemistry, biology and ecology of the African Great Rift lakes.
Lake Nipigon: Where the Great Lakes Begin
by Nancy Scott2017 Gertrude H. Dyke Award — Nominated The history of Lake Nipigon, where the Great Lakes begin. The name Nipigon is evocative of storied brook trout, cold clear waters, elusive woodland caribou, sweeping vistas, and spectacular scenery. Situated in the heart of Northwestern Ontario, almost every map of North America shows Lake Nipigon as a significant geographic feature, yet few people know its story. As the primary watershed that flows into Lake Superior, Nipigon is the headwaters of the Great Lakes. This, the first inclusive historical account of Lake Nipigon, provides a fascinating overview of its extensive natural history, including information on species at risk, and interprets the story of human incursion into the area, from its aboriginal prehistory to the colourful fur trade, the harvesting of resources, the coming of the railway, recreational fishing, eventual settlement, and the communities that remain today.
Lake Pavin
by Télesphore Sime-Ngando Pierre Boivin Emmanuel Chapron Didier Jezequel Michel MeybeckThis book represents the first multidisciplinary scientific work on a deep volcanic maar lake in comparison with other similar temperate lakes. The syntheses of the main characteristics of Lake Pavin are, for the first time, set in a firmer footing comparative approach, encompassing regional, national, European and international aquatic science contexts. It is a unique lake because of its permanently anoxic monimolimnion, and furthermore, because of its small surface area, its substantially low human influence, and by the fact that it does not have a river inflow. The book reflects the scientific research done on the general limnology, history, origin, volcanology and geological environment as well as on the geochemistry and biogeochemical cycles. Other chapters focus on the biology and microbial ecology whereas the sedimentology and paleolimnology are also given attention. This volume will be of special interest to researchers and advanced students, primarily in the fields of limnology, biogeochemistry, and aquatic ecology.
Lake Restoration Handbook: A New Zealand Perspective
by David P. Hamilton Kevin J. Collier John M. Quinn Clive Howard-WilliamsLakes across the globe require help. The Lake Restoration Handbook: A New Zealand Perspective addresses this need through a series of chapters that draw on recent advances in modelling and monitoring tools, citizen science and First Peoples’ roles, catchment and lake-focused restoration techniques, and policy implementation. New Zealand lakes, like lakes across the globe, are subject to multiple pressures that have increased in severity and scale as land use has intensified, invasive species have spread and global climate change becomes manifest. This books builds on the popular Lake Managers Handbook (1987), which provided guidance on undertaking investigations into, and understanding lake ecosystems in New Zealand. The Lake Restoration Handbook: A New Zealand Perspective synthesises contemporary issues related to lake restoration and rehabilitation, integrated with social science and cultural viewpoints, and complemented by authoritative topic-area summaries by renowned scientists and practitioners from across the globe. The book examines the progress of lake restoration and the new and emerging tools available to managers for predicting and effecting change. The book will be a valuable resource for natural and social scientists, policy writers, lake managers, and anyone interested in the health of lake ecosystems.
Lake: A See to Learn Book (See to Learn #2)
by Kate Moss GamblinLake: A See to Learn Book, the second book in the See to Learn series, is designed to inspire scientific curiosity, appreciation of beauty and connection to the natural world, through gentle questions and vibrant illustrations. Lake: A See to Learn Book is the second title in a series of non-fiction picture books for very young children that uses lyrical language to encourage a sensitive perception of the natural world and a caring connection with it. The text asks young readers to consider what they see and experience at a lake through the seasons — from dragonflies and hummingbirds in summer, to crimson leaves in fall, to goslings on the lake’s icy surface in winter, to moose calves by the water’s edge in spring — drawing local connections alongside those of a global sensibility. Gorgeous illustrations show a child and adult appreciating the lake’s beauty, learning its secrets and enjoying moments of wonder, all first steps toward developing a lifelong awareness of our interconnectedness to the Earth and our impact on the environment. Includes suggestions for further reading and an author’s note regarding aspects of shaping our inner environmental compass. Key Text Features author's note further reading Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4 Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
Lake Urmia: A Hypersaline Waterbody in a Drying Climate (The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry #123)
by Peygham Ghaffari Evgeniy V. YakushevThis book provides a holistic review of the environmental status of Lake Urmia in terms of its hydrodynamic, chemical, and ecological properties. Lake Urmia is a shallow landlocked hypersaline water body located in the northwest part of Iran, and it is known as one of the largest continental salt lakes in the world. Divided into 16 chapters, the book gathers leading experts from various scientific disciplines, and it covers past and current characteristics of the lake and traces projections on how the water quantity, quality, chemical, and ecological state of Lake Urmia Basin can develop in the future. The book outcomes are based on the analyses of the data of observations and unique models that were elaborated for the Lake Urmia system development studies. Particular attention is given to the basin drought in response to anthropogenic drivers and environmental pressures such as climate variability and climate change and their impact on the aquatic environment. The impact of water conveyance on Lake Urmia to improve the physical, chemical, and biological natural state is also discussed in this book, where an intensive and challenging observation plan in this harsh environment is combined with uniquely coupled and adopted hydrodynamical-biogeochemical models. Given its scope, the book offers an invaluable source of information for researchers, students, and environmental managers interested in the Lake Urmia environment.
Lake Victoria Monitored from Space
by Joseph AwangeThis book employs a suite of remotely sensed products and advanced technologies to provide the first comprehensive space-based sensing of Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest freshwater lake that supports a livelihood of more than 42 million people, modulates regional climate, but faces myriads of challenges. Proper understanding of the lake and changes in its physical dynamics (e.g., water level, shorelines and areal dynamics) resulting from the impacts of climate variation and climate change as well as anthropogenic (e.g., hydropower and irrigation) is important for its management as well as for strategic development before, during and after climate extremes (e.g., floods and droughts) in order to inform policy formulations, planning and mitigation measures. Owing to its sheer size, and lack of research resources commitment by regional governments that hamper its observations, however, it is a daunting task to undertake studies on Lake Victoria relying solely on in-situ “boots on the ground” measurements, which are sparse, missing in most cases, inconsistent or restricted by governmental red tapes. To unlock the potentials of Lake Victoria, this book argues for the removal of obsolete Nile treaties signed between Britain, Egypt and Sudan in the 1920s and 1950s, which prohibits its utilization by the upstream countries. The book is useful to those in water resources management and policy formulations, hydrologists, environmentalists, engineers and researchers.In a unique cross-disciplinary approach, the Book articulates the various climatic impacts and explanations from natural and anthropogenic origins, which affected Lake Victoria and its vicinity, including the drastic increase and depletion of water level in the Lake and dams, floods and droughts, water quality/security, crop health, food security, and economic implications. With no exception as in his many publications, Joseph L. Awange used data analysis methodologies including filtering, adjustment theory, and robust statistics, to quantify the hydrologic and other parameters, and their estimated uncertainties. The Book is recommended for readers from a diverse disciplines, including physical and social sciences, policy, law, engineering, and disaster management. Professor C.K. Shum, Ohio State University.
Lake Victoria Wetlands and the Ecology of the Nile Tilapia
by John Stephen BalirwaThis volume is taken from an ecological study of wetlands undertaken in northern Lake Victoria (East Africa) between 1993 and 1996 with the major aim of characterizing shallow vegetation-dominated interface habitats, and evaluating their importance for fish, in particular, for the Nile tilapia.
Lakes and Watersheds in the Sierra Nevada of California: Responses to Environmental Change (Freshwater Ecology Series #5)
by John M. MelackThe Sierra Nevada, California’s iconic mountain range, harbors thousands of remote high-elevations lakes from which water flows to sustain agriculture and cities. As climate and air quality in the region change, so do the watershed processes upon which these lakes depend. In order to understand the future of California’s ecology and natural resources, we need an integrated account of the environmental processes that underlie these aquatic systems. Synthesizing over three decades of research on the lakes and watersheds of the Sierra Nevada, this book develops an integrated account of the hydrological and biogeochemical systems that sustain them. With a focus on Emerald Lake in Sequoia National Park, the book marshals long-term limnological and ecological data to provide a detailed and synthetic account, while also highlighting the vulnerability of Sierra lakes to changes in climate and atmospheric deposition. In so doing, it lays the scientific foundations for predicting and understanding how the lakes and watersheds will respond.
Lakes of Mongolia: Geomorphology, Geochemistry and Paleoclimatology (Syntheses in Limnogeology)
by Alexander Orkhonselenge Munkhjargal Uuganzaya Tuyagerel DavaagatanThis book provides an overview of lakes in Mongolia from scientific, economic and scenic points of view, presenting lake area changes, their sedimentological and geochemical characteristics, valuable economic and geoheritage resources and paleoclimate change reconstruction. The book emphasizes internationally well-known lakes of Mongolia, but it also describes far less popular lakes which have remained unrecognized for scientific importance. The book offers modern, qualitative, process-oriented approaches and quantitative analytic results-based implications to understand the geomorphological, sedimentological and geochemical evolution of lake basins in Mongolia, and past and present climate changes in Mongolia and Eurasia. Insights into the interpretation of data obtained from the lake basins in the fields of geomorphology, sedimentology, geochemistry, geochronology and paleoclimatology are developed from theoretical principles, empirical observations, correlative illustrations, analytic measurements and conscious hypotheses. Based on the application of a combined compilation of recent Landsat 8 images of the lakes and topographic maps of them in 1970, this book presents enriched results and implications derived from remote sensing together with field measurements and laboratory analyses. This data compilation belongs to a research team at the Laboratory of Geochemistry and Geomorphology (LGG), National University of Mongolia (NUM).
The Lakes of Pontchartrain: Their History and Environments
by Robert W. HastingsA vital and volatile part of the New Orleans landscape and lifestyle, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin actually contains three major bodies of water—Lakes Borgne, Pontchartrain, and Maurepas. These make up the Pontchartrain estuary. Robert W. Hastings provides a thorough examination of the historical and environmental research on the basin, with emphasis on its environmental degradation and the efforts to restore and protect this estuarine system. He also explores the current biological condition of the lakes. Hastings begins with the geological formation of the lakes and the relationship between Native Americans and the water they referred to as Okwa'ta, the “wide water.” From the historical period, he describes the forays of French explorer Pierre Le Moyne D'Iberville in 1699 and traces the environmental history of the basin through the development of the New Orleans metropolitan area. Using the lakes for transportation and then recreation, the surrounding population burgeoned, and this growth resulted in severe water pollution and other environmental problems. In the 1980s, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation led a concerted drive to restore the lakes, an ongoing effort that has proved significant.
The Lakes of the Basin of Mexico: Dynamics of a Lacustrine System and the Evolution of a Civilization
by Carlos E. CordovaThis book is a review of research on the prehistoric and historic evolution of the Basin of Mexico’s lacustrine systems. Based on this review, the book presents a model of long and short-term natural lacustrine dynamics as the basis for understanding the processes of human adaptation and transformation of the aquatic ecosystems of the Basin of Mexico. Although only remains of the former lakes exist, the book stresses the importance of the knowledge of the former natural and cultural history of the lakes. In this sense, the book addresses the misconceptions and misinterpretations of the lakes that still exist in the literature and the media and that do not reflect the real nature of the lakes in the past. Therefore, the book attempts to not only feed into the local knowledge of the lakes, but also contribute to the worldwide knowledge of lacustrine dynamics and human populations that lived in and around them. The book should be of interest to geographers, geologists, archaeologists, natural historians and environmental scientists, civil engineers, city planners and those involved in the management of natural resources.
A Lakeside Companion
by Ted J. RulsehWhy do fish jump? Why don't lakes freeze all the way down to the bottom? Which lake plants are invasive? What are those water bugs? Is that lake healthy? Whether you fish, paddle, swim, snowshoe, ski, or just gaze upon your favorite lake, A Lakeside Companion will deepen your appreciation for the forces that shape lakes and the teeming life in and around them. You'll discover the interconnected worlds of a lake: the water; the sand, gravel, rocks, and muck of the bottom; the surface of the lake; the air above; and the shoreline, a belt of land incredibly rich in flora and fauna. Explained, too, are the physical, biological, and chemical processes that determine how many and what kinds of fish live in the lake, which plants grow there, the color and clarity of the water, how ice forms in winter and melts in spring, and much more. Useful advice will help you look out for your lake and advocate for its protection.
Lampreys: Volume 2 (Fish & Fisheries Series #38)
by Margaret F. DockerThis book, published in two volumes, provides the most comprehensive review of lamprey biology since Hardisty and Potter’s “The Biology of Lampreys” published more than 30 years ago. This second volume offers a synthesis of topics related to the lamprey gonad (e.g., lamprey sex ratios, sex determination and sex differentiation, sexual maturation, and sex steroids), the artifical propagation of lampreys, post-metamorphic feeding and the evolution of alternative feeding and migratory types, the history and status of sea lamprey control in the Laurentian Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, and an overview of contributions of lamprey developmental studies for understanding vertebrate evolution.
Land: A New Paradigm for a Thriving World
by Martin AdamsWhat if we lived in a world where everyone had enough? A world where everyone mattered and where people lived in harmony with nature? What if the solution to our economic, social, and ecological problems was right underneath our feet? Land has been sought after throughout human history. Even today, people struggle to get onto the property ladder and view real estate as an important way to build wealth. Yet, as the reader will discover through this book, the act of owning land—and our urge to profit from it—causes economic booms and busts, social and cultural decline, and environmental devastation. Land: A New Paradigm for a Thriving World introduces a radically new economic model that ensures a more fair and abundant reality for everyone. It is a book for those who dream of a better world, for themselves and future generations.Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: The Cost of Ignorance1. The Production of Wealth 2. The Value of Location3. The Free Market4. Social Decline5. Business Recessions6. Ecocide7. Earth, Our HomePart II: A New Paradigm for a Thriving World8. Restoring Communities9. Keep What You Earn, Pay for What You Use10. Local Autonomy11. Affordable Housing12. Thriving Cities13. Sustainable Farming14. The Price of Peace15. A New ParadigmEpilogue: A Personal NoteAppendix: The Math Behind the ScienceReferences & Suggestions for Further ReadingEndnotesIndex
Land Access and Resettlement: A Guide to Best Practice
by Gerry Reddy Eddie Smyth Michael SteynThis book is an up-to-date, accessible and practical guide on how to optimally plan for, implement and review land access and resettlement. It provides step-by-step information on how to avoid pitfalls, ensure that best practice is being employed and the correct standards are being applied. With useful real-life examples of when projects have gone well and when they haven't, the book is based on the main lessons that have been learned on-the-ground over the past decade. Natural resource projects can have considerable impacts on local communities, chiefly due to the need to acquire large areas of land. When projects are located in developing and middle income economies, the impacts are most keenly felt, as it often requires displacement of large rural populations, with predominately land-based livelihoods. The authors have planned, implemented and reviewed over 50 land access and resettlement projects in over 30 countries internationally, and conducted benchmarking exercises on a further 60 projects. This experience provides the basis for the book. The book guides the reader through the different stages of preparing for a land resettlement project. Land Access and Resettlement is a key social risk for the natural resources sector, particularly the mining, oil and gas industries, who are operating in a context of increased awareness and regulation regarding the potential social impacts of their activities. At the same time, companies increasingly appreciate the business case for ‘getting social right’. This book provides a practical road map to corporate leaders, project managers, practitioners, academia, government and civil society for practically planning and implementing successful land access and resettlement, and creating win-win outcomes for companies and communities.
Land Acquisition, Industrialization and Livelihoods: A case study on JSW Bengal Steel Plant
by Ramkrishna Maiti Sumanta Prakash SheeThis book provides an assessment of the impacts of human intervention on the natural environment and peoples' livelihoods through land-use conversion due to industrialization. Problems of land acquisition and the execution thereof have varying consequences that depend on the specific geographical as well as socio-political contexts in which they occur. This book covers a specific study of JSW Bengal Steel Ltd., which in 2014 planned to set up a 10.0 million ton per year integrated steel plant at the upper catchment of Sundra basin, the tributary of the Shilabati that ultimately pours to the river Rupnarayan, located at Salboni Block of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India. The project was ultimately put on hold, but caused many lingering environmental and socioeconomic problems due to the acquisition of formerly productive lands. The book examines this case to generate a database on the different aspects of land acquisition and its negative impacts on the geomorphology and hydrological of non-timber forest products, agricultural impacts resulting in livelihood changes, policy dimensions of land acquisition, and the impacts of delays in project implementation through a comparative analysis between projects-affected areas and non-project areas. The book will appeal to environmental managers and industry workers, as well as students and researchers in environmental economics, anthropology, and human geography.
Land Allocation for Biomass Crops: Challenges and Opportunities with Changing Land Use
by Andrea Monti Ruopu LiThis edited volume establishes a forum for international experts to explore cutting-edge questions associated with the land use and biomass production. Topics include ‘do we have enough land, either primary or marginal, to accommodate future production of biomass?’, ‘how are farming decisions made in response to biomass incentives?’, ‘is the current bio-mass production socially, economically and environmentally sustainable?’, and ‘what are the main constraints currently limiting biofuel deployment?’ The expansion of biomass production is often at the cost of reduced land availability for food production and losses of areas with ecological functions such as forests and wetlands. This process often involves complex interplay of physical dynamics and human systems that are driven by numerous geographic and socio-economic factors at different scales. Thus, the state-of-the-art research on the land use issues surrounding the biomass production and its environmental impacts is important for informed land management decision making. This book will be of great use to researchers in land use management and biomass-based renewable energy, as well as practitioners.
Land and Limits: Interpreting Sustainability in the Planning Process (Rtpi Library Ser.)
by Richard Cowell Susan OwensIn a new and critical analysis, this book explores the impact of an influential idea - sustainable development - on the institutions and practices governing use of land. It examines the paradox that in spite of increasing attention to sustainability, land use conflict is as ubiquitous and intense as ever.
Land and Resource Scarcity: Capitalism, Struggle and Well-being in a World without Fossil Fuels (Routledge Studies in Environmental Policy)
by Andreas Exner Peter Fleissner Lukas Kranzl Werner ZittelThis book brings together geological, biological, radical economic, technological, historical and social perspectives on peak oil and other scarce resources. The contributors to this volume argue that these scarcities will put an end to the capitalist system as we know it and alternatives must be created. The book combines natural science with emancipatory thinking, focusing on bottom up alternatives and social struggles to change the world by taking action. The volume introduces original contributions to the debates on peak oil, land grabbing and social alternatives, thus creating a synthesis to gain an overview of the multiple crises of our times. The book sets out to analyse how crises of energy, climate, metals, minerals and the soil relate to the global land grab which has accelerated greatly since 2008, as well as to examine the crisis of profit production and political legitimacy. Based on a theoretical understanding of the multiple crises and the effects of peak oil and other scarcities on capital accumulation, the contributors explore the social innovations that provide an alternative. Using the most up to date research on resource crises, this integrative and critical analysis brings together the issues with a radical perspective on possibilites for future change as well as a strong social economic and ethical dimesion. The book should be of interest to researchers and students of environmental policy, politics, sustainable development and natural resource management.
Land and the City: Patterns and Processes of Urban Change (Geography And Environment Ser.)
by Philip KivellFirst Published in 2004. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Land And Water
by National Science Resources CenterThe land and the water are always changing. Water flows over the land, carving valleys and wearing down the landscape. Forces inside Earth move continents, build mountains, and cause volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. If no rain falls, our water supplies dry up, and the land becomes cracked and parched.